The Hong Kong Sixes 2026 India squad is confirmed, and it comes with a late captaincy twist that many preview pages have still not caught up with. Krunal Pandya will captain India at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, which runs from October 30 to November 1 at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. India open their campaign against defending champions Pakistan, and this preview gives you the full seven-man squad, the corrected India vs Pakistan time, the complete schedule and the live streaming details in India.
The original October 5 announcement named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as captain. That changed when Bhuvneshwar was recalled to India's T20I squad for the New Zealand tour. Gujarat Titans pacer Kulwant Khejroliya replaced him, and Krunal took over as captain. Any preview still listing Bhuvneshwar as captain is out of date.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 India Squad: Full List
India's seven-man squad is: Krunal Pandya (captain), Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T. Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya. Only six take the field per match, so one sits out each game.
Krunal Pandya (captain) - Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The left-arm spinning all-rounder can bat up the order and bowl under pressure. In IPL 2026 he scored 226 runs at 145.80 and took 14 wickets for the title-winning RCB side.
Shashank Singh - Punjab Kings. A proven IPL finisher, built for six-over cricket, where every batter must be ready to hit from ball one.
Rahul Tewatia - Gujarat Titans. His late-order hitting and leg-spin give Krunal two skills in one player - vital in a six-a-side side.
Nitish Rana - Delhi Capitals. An aggressive left-handed batter with captaincy experience, Rana can take on the new ball from the first over.
Rahul Tripathi - Kolkata Knight Riders. His attacking intent at the top fits the Sixes brief: go hard, go early.
T. Natarajan - Sunrisers Hyderabad. His yorkers and changes of pace are made for the closing overs, where one good over can decide the match.
Kulwant Khejroliya - Gujarat Titans. The late replacement for Bhuvneshwar, Khejroliya adds left-arm pace to an IPL-heavy attack.
Why Krunal Pandya Is Captain, Not Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar was the original captain, which is why older pages still carry his name. The change came on October 17, when Sportstar reported his New Zealand call-up, with Krunal taking over and Khejroliya coming into the squad.
The recall followed an injury concern for Arshdeep Singh during the West Indies T20I series. Readers following the New Zealand tour can read our NZ vs IND 3rd T20I prediction (India lead 2-0) and NZ vs IND 2nd T20I result (Tilak Varma's 51* sealed it). Related posts: https://www.todayiplwin.live/blogs/nz-vs-ind-3rd-t20i-prediction, https://www.todayiplwin.live/blogs/nz-vs-ind-2nd-t20i-prediction and https://www.todayiplwin.live/blogs/ind-vs-wi-5th-t20i-2026-today-match-prediction.
India lose Bhuvneshwar's new-ball experience but gain a captain in Krunal fresh from a title-winning IPL season as a genuine all-rounder - versatility that matters more than a single specialist skill here.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Schedule: India vs Pakistan Time
India are in Pool C with Pakistan and the UAE. Pool winners reach the Cup semi-finals, second place goes to the Plate and third to the Bowl. The Cup final is on Sunday, November 1.
India's group matches: India vs Pakistan on Friday, October 30, at 14:15 Hong Kong time (11:45 AM IST); and UAE vs India on Saturday, October 31, at 10:35 Hong Kong time (8:05 AM IST). Both are at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground. Semi-finals follow on October 31, finals on November 1.
A note on timings, because the internet is confusing here. Some pages list India vs Pakistan at 8:45 AM IST and others at 2:15 PM IST. Both are mis-conversions: 14:15 Hong Kong time is 11:45 AM IST (Hong Kong is two and a half hours ahead of India), while 11:15 is the Pakistan time. Set your alarm for 11:45 AM IST on October 30, and 8:05 AM IST on October 31.
Pakistan: The Defending Champions India Must Beat First
Pakistan arrive as defending champions and the most successful team in Sixes history, with six titles. They beat Kuwait in the 2025 final, with captain Mohammad Abbas Afridi starring with 52 off 11 balls. Afridi leads again in 2026, alongside Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Shahzad and Saad Masood.
In 2025 India opened with a two-run DLS win over Pakistan before exiting, while Pakistan went all the way. That history, plus Afridi's 2025 strike rate of 460, makes October 30 the toughest possible start - and the best statement win if India pull it off.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Live Streaming in India
In India, the tournament will be streamed live on the FanCode app, which holds the digital rights here. It is also listed for television broadcast on the Sony Sports Network.
The 12 teams are in four pools: A - Australia, England, Hong Kong; B - Bangladesh, Scotland, Sri Lanka; C - India, Pakistan, UAE; D - South Africa, Afghanistan, Oman. All 25 matches are at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
How the Hong Kong Sixes Format Works
Six-a-side cricket: six players per team, six overs per innings. Most bowlers bowl one over, and one named bowler (not the wicketkeeper) may bowl two. Wides and no-balls count as two runs.
That is why India's squad shape works: almost every player can do two jobs. India's only Sixes title came in 2005, and this IPL-heavy squad is arguably their strongest in years.
FAQs
Who is the captain of India at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026?
Krunal Pandya. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the original captain, but his New Zealand T20I recall saw Kulwant Khejroliya replace him, with Krunal taking over.
What is the India vs Pakistan time at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026?
Friday, October 30, 2026, at 14:15 Hong Kong time, which is 11:45 AM IST, at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground. Pages listing 8:45 AM IST or 2:15 PM IST are mis-conversions.
What is the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 schedule for India?
Pakistan on October 30 at 11:45 AM IST and the UAE on October 31 at 8:05 AM IST, both in Pool C. Cup semi-finals are on October 31, finals on November 1.
Where can I watch the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 live streaming in India?
Live on the FanCode app in India, and listed for television broadcast on the Sony Sports Network.
